A. Executive Committee:
1. E. Seaver reported that the Unit Assessment Committee
(UAC) has drafted a request to be sent to programs that all clinical evaluation
forms used by programs be sent to the UAC. This information from
programs on how they are presently assessing students in regard to the
Conceptual Framework will enable the UAC to look at ways to aggregate the
information on common elements. The UAC will be then able to provide
an electronic format based on those common elements already collected by
programs that fit the Conceptual Framework. The UAC will also be
working on providing indicators and samples to programs so that the responses
may be condensed into a unit report.

2. A. Buehler reported that the Spring
2004 electronic Exit Survey can now be found as a link on the Teacher Certification
website. A trial run this week was successful. Also, a reminder
was recently sent to the university supervisors to facilitate responses
for those completing their first placement. Another reminder will
be sent later this spring. The website link will remain active until
May 14th. Based on feedback from across the
state regarding the ICTS field tests of the new content-area tests, issues
raised about juniors and seniors field testing tests intended for students
in graduate programs resulted in the NES revising the eligibility for the
tests and producing new flyers for distribution. They will also work
with NIU to provide evening test times for our graduate students.
New flyers should be available February 25th.

A. Buehler circulated a notice about the Online Teacher Information
System (OTIS) that provides students the ability to file their application
for certification online.

S. Warber reported that this can be done by students now, with payment
by credit card. R&R will continue to process the hard-copy applications
they receive for SP 04 and SU 04 candidates, but FA 04 candidates will
be encouraged to use the on-line application. R&R will not be
preparing certification application packets for the Fall 04 Student Teacher
Orientation Meeting. The accuracy of the program’s entries for candidates
on the EU17 screen will be crucial for the success of the on-line application
program. Applications for endorsements will continue under the present
procedure, using hard-copy forms. It is R&R’s intention to have
the endorsement applications available in the program departments to be
given to students upon admission into the certification program.
There is also the possibility of adding these forms to the Teacher Certification
website for printing. The on-line application procedure also affects the
Advanced Certification programs.

B. Curriculum Committee:

B. Montgomery presented the Summary of Action from Meeting
#4, January 28, 2004. Motion by P. Ervin to approve the Summary as
presented. Motion seconded by M. Mazzola. Motion passed.

C. Research and Assessment:

Larry Johannessen reported that this committee has been discussing
reasonable and measurable candidate dispositions and will be bringing 6-10
recommended dispositions to the next CITC Meeting.

J.D. Bowers reported that this committee will be meeting on
Friday, 2/27/04, following the presentation by TaskStream scheduled for
Wednesday, 2/25/04 and will report at the next CITC meeting. The electronic
portfolios need to be considered on the basis of
a.) cost to NIU/student; b.) the timeline for training and implementation,
and c.) the usefulness to the unit, the programs, and the students.
E. Seaver reported that the Provost’s office will not be able to provide
funding.

2. Endorsements & Transcript Evaluation
Committee

M. Morris reported that a letter is being drafted to be sent
to all programs asking what courses are recommended for Middle School and
secondary endorsements, with the results to be posted on the Teacher Certification
website. Discussion included the differences between program recommendations
and ISBE requirements, the need for this information for both undergraduate
and graduate students, including Advanced Certification programs and impact
these recommendation might have, both politically and on financial resources.
E. Seaver suggested the committee draft a “mock-up” of a website information
page to be brought back to CITC.

IV. Springfield Report

D. Jackman reported on a meeting with a group of faculty and
other interested parties on Early Childhood Studies curriculum and
career lattices. There has been legislation proposed to require
public four year institutions to accept community college credit in early
childhood four year degree programs along with penalties for institutions
that do not. There will be a meeting on the AAT in Special
Education in Springfield on March 26th. The Certification Board is still
in existence but the legislation to establish the Professional Teaching
Standards Board is still alive but being held by Senator Madigan.

E. Seaver reported that there is a P-20 Task Force for developing
a legislative agenda for President Peters, including the approval
process for programs vs. ISBE/NCATE accreditation. It is felt
that NIU could be more effective in our legislative message through the
“University Presidents’ Council”.

V. Old Business: None

VI. New Business

A. AACTE Meeting:

D. Jackman reported on the pre-session meetings on Assessment
she attended and that we appear to be on target compared to other institutions.
She also mentioned that there were several excellent speakers at the AACTE
meeting and suggested the possibility of inviting some
of those speakers to NIU.

At the Land Grant Deans Meeting, two large grants were discussed.
One is focused on the pre-doctoral interdisciplinary research training
for a Ph.D. in Education Sciences and one is focused on the establishment
of research centers in specific areas.

There will be a national study of teacher education conducted by the
National Research Council using a Flexner-type design. The specifics
on the study are currently being developed.

B. E-portfolios

See comments under Section III.F.1. “Portfolio/Technology Committee”

A. Buehler reported on his meeting with Illinois State University
representatives reviewing their preparation procedures
for their recent NCATE visit. Discussion
included:

The need to have people who will be central to organizing planning for
the review to be trained by NCATE or the state so that preparations are
viewed through the eyes of a reviewer;

Recommendation that an experienced outside reviewer be hired to comment
on the initial draft of the institutional report to ensure the intent is
clear;

Review through an “evidence triangle”, in which examiners should see evidence
in the evidence room, see it in the institutional report, and hear it from
faculty.

The requirement that the sciences programs (physics, chemistry, biology)
will be treated as a group and need to have a common assessment plan.

Changes during the time of the review need to be documented as to the process
of change

Need to show how the library helps the instructional process rather than
reporting the tonnage of books.

Student fees are under scrutiny - need to justify how the students benefit.

Different pricing structure between training and customer support and portfolio
itself.

TaskStream - similar to LiveText but not as widely used throughout Illinois.
Training is about $2,000 per day compared to about $1,000 per day from
LiveText. They claim their customer support is better.

Foliotek - Claims to have been given high marks from Missouri educators.
Software was student portfolio only, aggregation component not yet in existence

Charmed Solutions - No student portfolios, rather a program for Unit use
to aggregate information

E-Portfolio by Chalk & Wire - possibly a viable third option.
Appears to offer the same features as LiveText and TaskStream. Their
pricing structure would need to be looked at carefully. Their subscription
prices appear high but they say it costs as low as $18 per student.
They show on-site training as $719 per day plus travel, lodging, meals,
and incidentals. Further, they say price structure for a one-time
bulk adoption of more than 1000 accounts is “negotiable”.

The importance of the Unit having access to all, if more than one platform
is chosen.